Getting in Touch with My Inner German: Thurn's

Correction:  I originally stated that Thurn's was east of German Village; it is, of course, west.  I apologize for the error and for anyone who was driving around lost.  Thanks, editors!!
I've been meaning to visit Thurn's for about 2 years now, and my desire has finally caught up with reality.  Thurn's is an old school German charcuteir located just west of German village.  The other day, Chef was regaling me with the delights of Thurn's giant smoker, their delicious knackwurst, and their livery braunschwager.  He couldn't believe I had never paid them a visit, and warned me not to expect anything fancy.  Another friend, who has more business writing a food blog than I do, to be honest, described it as a place where he has seen "men in rubber pants spraying blood off the walls."  Hm.  This, I had to see.

Fortunately, I got to see into the hanging room, but it was filled with all manner of sausagey wonders and no blood or sides of pig.  What I did see was a lot of sausage.  And a few pigs' feet, and 2 kinds of head cheese.  I chose a variety pack, I like to think, having never been to Thurn's before and wanting a sampling of the wares.  So it was (left to right on above picture) braunschwager, a lightly smoke spreadable liver-based sausage (which the cats love); bacon; black leona, a heavily smoked and robust summer sausage; and knackwurst, a lightly smoked veal and pork sausage.

There are far too few of these sorts of places in Columbus, Ohio.  Being the fast food carryout bag of the country, although located in an agricultural wonderland, we seem to be the first to jump onto every convenience bandwagon offered.  Take some time to search out these local treasures and support them so they will always be around. 

Thurn's is open for retail Thursday - Saturday from 8am - 6pm.  The rest of the days are for smoking and preparing the products. 

Info:  Thurn's Specialty Meats 530 Greenlawn Ave (just west of I71) 614.443.1449